From its early beginnings, TW has been closely linked with films; after all the TW battles are very cinematic in all TW games thus far.
Akira Kurosawa's "RAN" and "Kagemusha", provided much of inspiration and atmosphere and even gameplay elements (the unit formation behaviour that are used to this day in TW are clearly portraid in both films - units are seen arrange themselves in broader or narrower rectangular formations) and even tactics (notice in the final battle of RAN that gunners hide in the trees to create enfilade killing zones against a charging cavalry heavy force) in Shogun:TW.
Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" was crucial not only as an inspiration but in setting the tone for Rome:TW; its success also prompted CA (according to Mike Simpson in the RTW Story) to anticipate "a bit of a Rome frenzy" and decide to make the game that broke TW into the mainstream. This is also clearly shown in how CA marketed the game, and how a large part of the fanbase perceived it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w59h-bPMiy4
For Medieval2:TW Ridley Scott's (again!) "Kingdom of Heaven" was central in setting the tone and being associated with the game (Saladin's depiction in the film was used in the special edition package iirc of M2TW http://img.game.co.uk/images/product...collectors.jpg).
There is a fine array of inspiring warfilms for the upcoming Napoleon TW, and although CA has undoubtedly has picked their own and incorporated them in the game, what are fan film favorites for this era?
I think that mine is a relatively unknown, although awarded and well regarded, film, that happens actually to be Ridley Scott's very first effort (up to then Scott was involved in the making of commercials that defined him as a director as anyone who has watched "Kingdom of Heaven" can attest; that movie was described by some as "a two hour long car commercial").
This is "The Duellists" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8nGgvepXCk), a film about the animosity between two cavalry officers (Hussars) in the Napoleonic Army at the height of the Naopleonic Wars, that degenerates in a series of "to the death" duells. The script is based on a Josef Conrad story.
The movie matches in the two protagonistis roles two (surprisingly) american actors; the country singer Keith Carradine as the upper class D'Hubert and the well known Harvey Keitel as the obsessive duellist lower class Feraud, who drags Carradine's character into the vortex of encounters at the edge of life and death.
Keitel at the time was finding it difficult to land roles in the US, hence the appreciation towards Scott for giving him a chance (Keitel repaid the favor by appearing in Scott's "Thelma and Luise" much later on). He plays the part he plays best: a cynical, violent obsessive character that channels his raw twisted energy in duels he picks up, essentially just to fight.
Caradine is equally adept in the role of well-brought-up, reliable and conscientious d'Hubert. Interestingly enough Scott managed to convince him to come in Europe and play the Hussar which made Carradine postpone a tour to promote his 1976 hit "I'm easy" (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2x...-live-1976_ads).
A fine array of English actors makes up for the rest of the cast; not only they are all excellen in their parts but they also provide the film with an authentic european aura (together with the locations).
The duellists, is notable for its exquisite cinematography (and use of natural lighting) and the attention to details as well as the interesting theme, the esoteric intensity of which is superbly translated in the screen by Scott's direction. The movie was shot on location in France for the most part and this makes up for many great scenes but also contributes to an air of authenticity in the film. The Russia scenes were shot in the Scottish Highlands. The duelling scenes are nothing short of superb.
The duellists is a small gem of a film, that although unlikely to appeal to blockbuster fans can certainly be appreciated by a large audience.
What is your favorite Napoleonic era film? :smiley2:
